Our Staff
Meet our team of advocates, accredited representatives, and community leaders who have dedicated themselves to walking alongside immigrants as they build their lives in the United States.
Vera Burgess
Executive Director
Since volunteering at ADC in 2020, Vera transitioned to a part-time DOJ Accredited Representative in 2021. Drawing on her ESL teaching experience and personal immigration background, she connects easily with clients from many nationalities.
Born in Cleveland to immigrant grandparents and having lived in several countries, Vera deeply values cultural diversity. She is devoted to making clients feel welcome in the U.S. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, teaching Sunday School, and spending time with family.
Dalia Lira
Director of Social Advocacy, Lead Immigration Consultant, and DOJ Accredited Representative
Dalia joined ADC in 2022 and partners with InTulsa to help refugee families settle in the Tulsa area. The daughter of immigrants and having successfully petitioned her husband for citizenship, she understands both the challenges and the value of reliable legal guidance.
She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in legal studies at Northeastern State University. In her free time, Dalia enjoys hiking and being with her family. She is a member of Battle Creek Church in Owasso.
Oscar Guillen Arauz
Volunteer DOJ Representative In Training
A first-generation immigrant turned advocate for Tulsa’s future, Oscar serves as a Program Fellow at Eastside Rise, empowering neighborhoods through critical naturalization services. He also volunteers with the American Dream Center Institute to expand access to legal services while pursuing accreditation as a DOJ Accredited Representative. His community service is supported by a strong track record of driving operational excellence at the Oklahoma Policy Institute and helping secure more than $100 million in federal funding at Tulsa Innovation Labs.
Board of Directors
Elissa Stiles
President
Elissa is a bilingual immigration attorney and Managing Attorney at Rivas & Associates in Tulsa. A University of Tulsa College of Law graduate, she co-founded the TU Immigration Law Society and organized service trips to immigration detention centers while in law school.
Her passion for immigrant advocacy grew from extensive study abroad experiences. Elissa joined the American Dream Center board in 2024 to support the organization’s mission through her legal expertise.
Lynn Minden
Board Treasurer
A Tulsa native, Lynn earned her accounting degree from the University of Tulsa and returned home in 2004 after 14 years in Kansas City. A longtime volunteer, she has served as board president of Gaining Ground Literacy and held multiple leadership roles at Fellowship Lutheran Church.
She currently chairs ACTION’s Immigration Team, working to support Oklahoma’s immigrant families. Lynn understands the critical importance of quality legal representation in the immigration process.
Angela Munoz
Board Secretary
Angela serves as Workforce Program Director at YWCA Tulsa, with more than a decade of nonprofit experience. She has built and expanded programs that connect immigrant and refugee communities to meaningful employment.
Her expertise includes workforce development, vocational training, grant compliance, and strategic partnerships. Angela is dedicated to creating career pathways and helping clients achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Diego Wasdin
Diego is a bilingual professional with a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship from Oklahoma State University and technical training from Guadalajara, Mexico. Certified in Translation and Interpreting from Tulsa Community College, he works as a Bilingual Communications and Marketing Specialist at CAP Tulsa and provides interpretation services for Hispanic families.
He brings strong language and community connection skills to the board.